A former Jackson police officer and Hinds County sheriff candidate will serve two years in federal prison for telling a pawn shop dealer a firearm he bought was for him rather than a convicted felon.
Torrence Mayfield, 53, received his sentence Tuesday after pleading guilty in November. The Raymond resident was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
The charge carried a maximum 10-year prison sentence and $250,000 fine.
In 2021, Mayfield made the purchase at a shop that is a Federal Firearms Licensee, which required him to complete a form to purchase the firearm, according to court records. He noted on the form that the gun was for him, rather than someone else.
Mayfield was indicted in 2023 on four counts, including selling ammunition to a convicted felon and selling a firearm to a convicted felon, according to court documents.
The former Jackson Police Department officer and Edwards Police Department chief was one of 13 candidates for Hinds County sheriff in a 2021 special election following the death of former sheriff Lee Vance. Mayfield received less than 1% of the vote.
Marshand Crisler, another candidate in that election, was convicted last year and sentenced in February to 2 ½ years in federal prison for soliciting and accepting bribes and giving ammunition to a convicted felon during his 2021 sheriff’s campaign.
During Crisler’s November trial, prosecutors – the same who handled Mayfield’s case – revealed Crisler received campaign money from Tonarri Moore, who the FBI recruited as an informant, in exchange for favors for Moore. As an informant, he recorded conversations and meetings with Crisler in 2021.
Moore testified, and during cross examination, he said he spoke with Mayfield about a firearm and some bullets.
Mayfield’s name also came up during some recorded conversations between Moore and Crisler played during trial.
Crisler filed an appeal notice at the end of February after his sentencing. He is expected to report to the Bureau of Prisons custody in April, according to court records.
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